They say talking to plants helps them grow – with King Charles a keen believer in the theory.
And soon plants will ‘talk’ back thanks to AI that will allow gardeners to converse with their plot.
Budding horticulturalists will be able to ask what their gardens need – and even how they are feeling.
The development is to be showcased at next year’s Chelsea Flower Show, which will include a garden that can talk back.
The Avanade garden designed by Tom Massey and Je Ahn will be able to tell gardeners whether it is sensible to water – as it is going to rain later in the day – or that the water is moist enough already. The garden is in collaboration with Microsoft.
The Avanade garden designed by Tom Massey (above) and Je Ahn will be able to tell gardeners whether it is sensible to water – as it is going to rain later in the day – or that the water is moist enough already. The garden is in collaboration with Microsoft
King Charles, is a keen horticulturalist and firm believer that communicating with plants can help them
Speaking at an RHS event, Mr Massey said the garden will be able to answer questions such as: ‘How are you feeling? What do you need? Do you need to be watered?
‘It could answer: ‘I need a bit more water, I can do with a haircut, maybe’.’
King Charles, is a keen horticulturalist and firm believer that communicating with plants can help them.
He first revealed in 1986: ‘I just come and talk to the plants, really – very important to talk to them, they respond.’
Studies have since appeared to support the suspicion. Plants have been found to ‘respond’ to vocal vibrations, which could boost their growth.
Mr Massey’s garden will have sensors buried in the soil to monitor moisture levels – as well as nutrient levels and acidity and alkalinity.
The ‘relatively inexpensive’ wireless sensors will communicate with a computer housed in a pavilion at the rear of the garden.
The technology Mr Massey is being developed specially for the show but provides a glimpse of how gardens of the future will be looked after.
Mr Massey said he expected it would be very useful for gardens in big developments.
Mr Massey’s garden will have sensors buried in the soil to monitor moisture levels – as well as nutrient levels and acidity and alkalinity
The technology Mr Massey is being developed specially for the show but provides a glimpse of how gardens of the future will be looked after
‘Imagine how much water you could save in a big development if you only use water when needed,’ he said.
‘Irrigation systems come on at a regular time to water, whether it’s needed or not,’ he added.
Visitors to the RHS show will be able to talk to the garden via an app, he added.
Mr Massey said he did not think that AI would take ‘the fun’ out of gardening.
‘It’s no fun spending ages watering a garden when you don’t need to’, he added.
‘The AI could tell you to ‘Stop watering me. Go and have a drink,’ he said.
In future, vision systems could detect pests, and control automation – such as robot lawnmowers, he said.
AI is already making an impact on gardening – with several firms offering garden design applications, including ChatGPT.
The Royal Horticultural Society has already developed an AI app to give gardening advice called ChatBotanist.
